Laboratory Manager

Laboratory Manager

Lehigh University's Department of Materials Science & Engineering is home to research that advances everything from structural alloys to next-generation functional materials. Underpinning that work are shared laboratory facilities across the Whitaker and HST buildings — and this full-time Laboratory Manager role exists to ensure those spaces run safely, efficiently, and in service of the researchers who depend on them every day.

This position is a Grade: 10 - 40 with an approximate salary range of $67,270-$81,830 and is subject to change based on experience, skills and qualifications.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop and execute schedules for preventative and corrective maintenance, calibration, and vendor-coordinated repairs to ensure all laboratory instruments align with teaching and research needs.
• Evaluate, source, and procure high-quality, cost-effective equipment and consumables while maintaining precise inventory controls and detailed records of purchases and usage.
• Oversee the long-term performance of laboratory assets and actively identify and pursue funding opportunities to acquire new instrumentation and modernize the facility.
• Supervise and manage shared MSE department laboratory spaces across multiple locations (Whitaker and HST), developing and enforcing facility policies and operational procedures.
• Lead comprehensive safety programs, including conducting annual inspections and audits, maintaining precise training compliance records for all users, and ensuring strict adherence to safety standards.
• Conduct safety and operational training for students, staff, and researchers, while serving as the facility liaison to provide tours for visitors, vendors, alumni, and external partners.
• Provide hands-on technical expertise and operational coordination for undergraduate teaching labs and graduate research activities to advance the department's educational mission.
• Train and mentor students, staff, and researchers on proper equipment operation, safety protocols, and advanced experimental techniques.
• Diagnose and resolve complex instrumentation and experimental issues to minimize downtime and ensure the continuity of research and instruction.
• Manage laboratory operating budgets, oversee equipment usage billing, track expenses, and prepare financial reports and forecasts to support new lab initiatives.

Qualifications

• Associate's or Vocational/Technical Degree in Engineering or related field
• One to three years of related work experience
• Demonstrated experience managing shared or multi-user research laboratory facilities in an academic, engineering, or industrial setting
• Sound knowledge of laboratory safety regulations, hazardous material handling, and institutional compliance frameworks
• Experience with budget management, billing systems, or cost-recovery models in a research environment
• Meticulous record-keeping practices and the organizational discipline to manage multiple equipment systems simultaneously

At Lehigh, staff who support the research enterprise are valued contributors to the University's academic mission, not simply operational support. The College of Engineering & Applied Science brings together faculty and staff who collaborate closely across disciplines, and this role offers genuine visibility and influence within that community. Lehigh provides competitive salaries, comprehensive health and retirement benefits, and one of the most generous tuition assistance programs in higher education — covering employees and eligible dependents. The dual-building scope of this position means no two weeks look exactly alike, and your work will have a direct, measurable impact on the quality of research conducted across the MSE department.

Lehigh University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate. We are committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse community and we seek qualified candidates to contribute to the university's mission.

Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing an accommodation for any part of the interview or hiring process may contact Lehigh's Accommodations Specialist.

Special Considerations

• This position has fiscal or financial responsibilities other than employee expense activity, such as processing or approving transactions; monitoring or preparing budgets; or generating income for University; therefore, a credit check is required.
• This position has direct contact with minors, therefore a background check is required.

Successful completion of standard background checks including but not limited to: social security verification, education verification, national criminal background checks, motor vehicle checks, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance and credit history based upon the requirements of the position.

Only complete applications will be considered therefore please complete the application in its entirety. Once the posting is removed from the website applications may no longer be allowed to be completed.